It also makes sense for good, honest journalists to use this language. Because they’re trying to be neutral and leaving the opinion forming up to the reader, as far as they can. They want to let the facts speak for themselves. Even if they’re pro Ukraine, they want the facts to convince you to be pro Ukraine, not their phrasing.

So, regardless of whether they’re rage baiting, paid off by Russia, or trying to do honest journalists, it always makes more sense to use neutral language rather than having a pro Ukraine bias.